Tales of an Amorphic Destiny

First Anniversary @ The Fat Duck

November 19th, 2006 at 10:04pm James

Well our first year of being married has been an amazing one and so we thought we’d do something amazing to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate a first anniversary than at The Fat Duck, voted The Best Restaurant in the World in 2005? Proprietor Heston Blumenthal made his restaurant in the tiny village of Bray a huge success by being a pioneer of "molecular gastronomy", the application of scientific methods to food preparation. The results are such bizarre combinations as snail porridge, sardine on toast sorbet and egg and bacon ice cream.

We stayed in the nearby Monkey Island Hotel, perched on a small island in the middle of the river Thames and apparently named after a monk that once lived there. After a relaxed afternoon we wandered up into the village and enjoyed a drink at The Hind’s Head, also owned by Heston Blumenthal and famous for it’s pub meals, (we’ll have to wait until next time to give them a try).

Then it was off to The Fat Duck itself for what was to be an awesome assault on our senses. Starting with Champagne, we then settled in to what seemed like an endless tasting menu. Every dish was intricately presented, with so many delicious and exotic flavours in such bizarre combinations. Take a look at the tasting menu for some idea of the culinary delights that we were presented with. A special mention must also go to the service – one waiter’s only job was to distribute bread, another spent the entire evening ensuring everybody constantly had fresh napkins. Each item on the menu was presented and explained by the attentive staff, who also made suggestions on how best to enjoy each dish.

Possibly the strangest moment of the evening came after a main course and several desserts were finished. We were presented with bowls and individual boxes of Fat Duck "parsnip cereal" accompanied by "parsnip milk". It would seem that after what had already been a gourmet tour-de-force we were to be served breakfast as well, even though it was nearing 11pm! When our cereal was done it was time for eggs and bacon, the waitress apologising that due to the gas burners being broken she would be forced to "cook" our breakfast in liquid nitrogen!

This most amazing of meals was rounded off with dessert wine, hot/cold gel tea, coffee and chocolate. By the time we’d paid the bill and were walking out to our waiting taxi, we were both in a giddy daze of gastronomic delight. A once-in-a-lifetime experience and a meal that nether of us will ever forget!

Some more photos are here.

Entry Filed under: Life in England